Regrets, I Have A Few

"Remember not former things, and look not on things of old. Behold I do new things..."-

 Isaiah 43:18-19

When I read the Write31Days writing prompt for today my first thought was skipping it and writing about something else.  The prompt is "a mistake that taught you an important lesson".  My immediate response was to cringe.  When "mistake" and "lesson" are put together in a sentence I'm not thinking about the time I mistook flat Sprite for water which I generously poured into the steam iron (it smelled like burnt candy!)  I'm thinking more along the lines of incidents that I cannot undo, things I regret having done or things I regret NOT having done. 

I am envious of people who are able to claim not having any life regrets as it made them who they are today. I wish I had the gumption to say the same.  Unfortunately, one of my biggest flaw is a sharp memory that makes me remember all my failings and its consequences.  This is not because I haven't forgiven myself for these transgressions.  I might actually be too quick to forgive myself!  But the regret usually stems from the thought that I did not know then how wrong I was.  Another regret is when I can no longer make restitution or set things right especially when too much time has elapsed.

I think this is part of the reason I tend to be quick to forgive and try not to hold grudges. My prayer is that the same is accorded to me. It drives me batty when people dredge up things that happened ten years ago (or even a month ago).  I see and hear this all the time (thank you Facebook!)  I would like to think most of us are better people than we were ten years ago (or even a month ago).  If not, then sister, we have a lot of work to do!

What mistake taught you an important lesson?

Don't forget to visit my friends who are keeping me company this month - Autumn, Nicole, Barb,  and Christine